Thirty years ago, they squared off in “The Karate Kid.” This weekend, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka make a rare appearance together at Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Macchio, who starred as protagnist “Daniel LaRusso,” joins Zabka, who played arch rival “Johnny Lawrence” in the 1984 hit.

Macchio also portrayed “Eugene Martone” in Crossroads and “Billy Gambini” in My Cousin Vinny. He will appear Friday, Saturday and Sunday. meeting fans, signing autographs, posing for photo ops (solo and dual) and conduct an interactive Q&A panel.
Zabka will appear on Friday only and will greet fans, sign at his booth and pose for photo ops.

A Long Island native, Macchio first hit the national audience as “Jeremy Andretti” in the finals season (1980-81) of the series “Eight is Enough.” He then appeared opposite young future stars C. Thomas Howell, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe and Matt Dillon in The Outsiders before hitting it big with The Karate Kid in 1984.

His first significant adult role came in My Cousin Vinny (1992) and was followed by strong performances in the film Naked in New York and the musical How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. In 2011 he competed on “Dancing with the Stars,” placing fourth overall in the competition, and in 2012 appeared in the film Hitchcock.

After his breakout in Karate Kid, Zabka went on to perform in such comedy hits as Just one of the Guys and National Lampoon’s European Vacation in 1985 and Back to School in 1986 before reprising the Johnny Lawrence role in The Karate Kid, Part II.

Zabka also directed Rascall Flatts in their music video for “Why Wait,” and had a recurring role as himself on “How I Met Your Mother” (along with Macchio, who appeared in one of those episodes).